Intense flavour

[CimaDirapa]

Good evening GYO HQ,

I started to grow my own veg as a way of getting the flavours back into my cooking. I lived in Israel in the 60's and the veg were simple but tasty.
Why I tell you this? over there a lot of the veg got an intense flavour which I can't find here in the supermarkets of my very rural west country town.

The solution is GYO.
Now I find that a lot of the veg seed sold nowadays tend to be 'born to be mild'. I like my onions hot and strong but didn't find any, can't find a really peppery radish or a really sweet beetroot.

I've grown Boltardy beet that look wonderful and goes like the clappers but it is too bland for my palate.

Can anyone here please recommend me an onion, radish and beet that have the above traits?

[Snadger]

I can go 1/3rd of the way....Onion Long Red Florence has a pronounced flavour all of it's own!

I like intensly flavoured tomatoes that's why I grow types that are good for sun dried tomatoes.........or in my case dehydrator dried!

[Two_Sheds]

Ostergruss is a very hot strong radish.


I suspect a lot of flavour comes from the growing conditions as much as the variety ....too much water and not enough sun makes for bland flavour

[rana]

Supermarkets want their produce grown for its shelf life and crop weight for the least cost. Taste doesn't come into it. Unfortunately consumers have fallen into the same habit. I recently gave a friends children some tomatos from the garden. They were stunned at the taste of 'real' fruit.

I'm with Sheds in that growing conditions (and time) make all the difference.

[CimaDirapa]

I can go 1/3rd of the way....Onion Long Red Florence has a pronounced flavour all of it's own!

I like intensly flavoured tomatoes that's why I grow types that are good for sun dried tomatoes.........or in my case dehydrator dried!

That's interesting Snadger, it is marketed as a SWEET onion by Moreveg:

------"These elongated bulbs of deep red-purple colour have a mild sweet flavour. This Italian heirloom variety is gorgeous in both looks and taste. They can be used young as a spring onion or left to mature for harvesting from August onwards. Price for 60 seeds"----

Is it really hot and pungent? from what I understand the more pungent onions possess more health properties according to this American article.

Is anyone here growing Sturon or Rosanna? both sold as strong taste bulbs.

[Snadger]

That's interesting Snadger, it is marketed as a SWEET onion by Moreveg:

------"These elongated bulbs of deep red-purple colour have a mild sweet flavour. This Italian heirloom variety is gorgeous in both looks and taste. They can be used young as a spring onion or left to mature for harvesting from August onwards. Price for 60 seeds"----

Is it really hot and pungent? from what I understand the more pungent onions possess more health properties according to this American article.

Is anyone here growing Sturon or Rosanna? both sold as strong taste bulbs.

Are you wanting to eat the onions raw?

Thats the only way you'll get hotness as cooking takes it away. Shallots , eschallots and florence onions all have a strong flavour when cooked.......not hot, but strongly pronounced!

PS I've grown Sturon onions from sets and they aren't distinctively tasted from what I remember!

[CimaDirapa]

Yes!

I eat them raw and the stronger it is the better.. yamm
Never did Shallots or eschallots but there is one listed in the autumn planting, I think it's call Grise? might give it a go.

[King Carrot]

I read somewhere, the more sulphur in the soil the more pungent and strong tasting the onion

[Snadger]

Yes!

I eat them raw and the stronger it is the better.. yamm
Never did Shallots or eschallots but there is one listed in the autumn planting, I think it's call Grise? might give it a go.

Yuck.....my dear old Dad used to eat onions like you would eat an apple...........

[CimaDirapa]

I read somewhere, the more sulphur in the soil the more pungent and strong tasting the onion

Bring on the good o'ldays of acid rain

[Comfreyfan]

I suspect a lot of flavour comes from the growing conditions as much as the variety ....too much water and not enough sun makes for bland flavour

That describes most of our summers then!!

[Maximillian]

As for beets, grow any colour that isn't red! The flavours of albino, chioggia and the orange ones are divine.

[bluemoon]

Haven't grown Rosanna, but Sturon is just a bog-standard onion. I agree with the theory that growing conditions make a difference though.